The Houses of Roman Italy, 100 B.C.-A.D. 250: Ritual, Space, and Decoration (Paperback)

~ (Author) "The architecture of the Romans was, from first to last, an art of shaping space around ritual..." (more)
Key Phrases: stacked aediculae, aedicular scheme, black tablinum, Second Style, Third Style, Villa of the Mysteries (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An exhaustive study of Roman wall painting, mosaic, and stucco decoration. . . . In case studies of 17 excavated houses throughout Italy, Clarke takes us through the changing styles and values in Roman life, from earlier, more functionally decorative art to the more extravagant (and at times gaudy) paintings of the Augustan age and beyond."--"AB Bookman's Weekly

Product Description

In this richly illustrated book, art historian John R. Clarke helps us see the ancient Roman house "with Roman eyes." Clarke presents a range of houses, from tenements to villas, and shows us how enduring patterns of Roman wall decoration tellingly bear the cultural, religious, and social imprints of the people who lived with them.
In case studies of seventeen excavated houses, Clarke guides us through four centuries of Roman wall painting, mosaic, and stucco decoration, from the period of the "Four Styles" (100 B.C. to A.D. 79) to the mid- third century. The First Style Samnite House shows its debt to public architecture in its clear integration of public and private spaces. The Villa of Oplontis asserts the extravagant social and cultural climate of the Second Style. Gemlike Third-Style rooms from the House of Lucretius Fronto reflect the refinement and elegance of Augustan tastes. The Vettii brothers' social climbing helps explain the overburdened Fourth-Style decoration of their famous house. And evidence of remodelling leads Clarke to conclude that the House of Jupiter and Ganymede became a gay hotel in the second century.
In his emphasis on social and spiritual dimensions, Clarke offers a contribution to Roman art and architectural history that is both original and accessible to the general reader. The book's superb photographs not only support the author's findings but help to preserve an ancient legacy that is fast succumbing to modern deterioration resulting from pollution and vandalism.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 450 pages
• Publisher: University of California Press (November 11, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0520084292
• ISBN-13: 978-0520084292
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #86,302 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #13 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Schools, Periods & Styles > Ancient & Classical
  #81 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Architecture > History & Periods
  #82 in	Books > History > Ancient > Rome

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent resource for students of interior design history, August 15, 2000

By	"shylo" (Dallas) - See all my reviews

With all the books written on Roman architecture and art, I was thrilled to find this comprehensive book on domestic Roman interiors. Written in a reader friendly manner - the book covers all elements of Roman interiors from mosaics, architectural elements, layout and visual axis to the four decorative styles. It even helps the reader to understand the motivation behind these styles, and how the Romans felt about their interiors. I would say this book is a must have for any interior design student.